Thanks to Professor Hancock, I was introduced to Nicole Bostel. She manages the day-to-day aspects of the University of Denver’s athletic media relations department for 17 D1 sports teams including the lacrosse team (perfect fit for me to interview her). Due to her busy schedule and time difference, email was the best way to interview Nicole.

Here are the questions in bold, along with Nicole’s answers:

What are your responsibilities and how do these responsibilities integrate with marketing and business objectives for the University of Denver?

I am responsible for managing and directing the DU Athletics and Recreation Media Relations staff. I am responsible for staffing and training of the staff as well as making sure we are following the global mission of the athletics and recreation department along with the University of Denver’s. I work closely with the communications staff for the University of make sure that we are cross promoting our events and finding ways to work together for the overall DU brand. I personally also manage the media relations for the women’s basketball, volleyball and nationally ranked men’s lacrosse team.

What methods of communications does the organization use to reach their public?

We have a tough media market because we have every possible pro team imaginable here in the Denver metro area. So our job of reaching our public has become more focused on using our platforms that we manage. We use DenverPioneers.com for all of our news and we then use our social media channels to promote what we post to our website. We use Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram as our primary channels.

What are some examples of communications strategies you have used to achieve success?

We try to make sure that we communicate from the top-down. Meaning, that we want to make sure that everything is consistent and stream lined. We have made it a point that all communication with our public has to go through our media relations office. This helps keep the messaging consistent and concise. This has trained our fans to make sure that they are always checking DenverPioneers.com and/or our social media channels for the most accurate news.

We also have adopted the mindset that “We are our own Media.” Even though we continue to work with our partners in the local and regional media markets, we have to adjust to the changing times that these outlets are shrinking. We have to be proactive in getting our message out to our publics by using our own channels and telling our own story.

How has the public relations practice affected the reputation of your organization?

We have a very positive working relationship with our media partners and networks. One of the reasons why this is the case is because we allow access to our coaches and student-athletes. We want to have a solid foundation so that when a crisis does come about, we have a respectful relationship with the media to where they won’t abuse us. Of course this relationship is always being worked on. I stress to our staff that we have to always be positive and helpful in getting the media what they need, while also making them understand that sometimes there are limitations. This approach has been very successful so far and has helped us even in some trying times.

What do you like most about your job? What do you dislike about the job?

I love being able to work with students who are also athletes. 90 percent of the student-athletes here will not compete professionally and it is nice to see how hard they work to just have those four years to compete before they enter the real world and take on normal jobs. I’ve had experience in professional sports, in BCS DI athletic departments and in DII athletic departments and I really enjoy where I’ve landed. I feel like I have an opportunity to make a difference, even in a small way, on how a student-athlete’s experience is and that means a lot.

I would say that one thing that has been challenging, as I’ve been getting older is the traveling. I recently got married and am not looking toward the future and wanting to plan a family and the only obstacle that I see is that my job requires a decent amount of travel that would make it tough to raise a family.

This is for my PR class… this is not directly from the MLL or David Gross.

Today, I’m happy to announce that the Major Lacrosse League (MLL) will be having our first regular season game in Florida later this year. On April 27th, the Rochester Rattlers will be facing the 2012 MLL Champion Chesapeake Bayhawks in St. Petersburg, Florida at the historic Al Lang Stadium.

MLL in Florida

We are excited to have our first regular season game in Florida after a very successful All – Star game last year in Boca Raton. Florida is one of the fastest growing states for lacrosse and we know we have many passionate fans located here.

Since the MLL is new to the Florida area we will be holding four lacrosse clinics in each of these great Florida cities: Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Boca Raton. Come out and learn more about lacrosse. We will have many of our MLL players there to explain the rules, as well as, a live lacrosse scrimmage, so you can learn some of the lacrosse strategies.

I am really excited to see a professional lacrosse game in Florida. I believe it’s about time. We have some great talent here in Florida and lacrosse continues to grow. I can’t tell you how excited I am to see the MLL playing a game in St. Petersburg this year.

We know that when you come to our game on April 27th in St. Petersburg, you will have a great time. Not only will you get to enjoy the game, but after the game many of our MLL players will be available for autograph sessions. Also, prior to the game, fans can join our player shoot around between 4pm to 5pm. We believe that once you come to our first game, you will be hooked on the MLL and will want to see more games in the future. One game is all that it takes, so please come out to St. Petersburg and enjoy the lacrosse game between the Rochester Rattlers and Chesapeake Bayhawks.

More information about the game will be posted on our main website (MLL.com) as well as MLLFLA.com in the coming weeks.

It’s John Harbaugh vs Jim Harbaugh. What a great way to share together. It will be great bragging rights “Hey, please pass the turkey. Didn’t so and so play like a turkey when we beat you guys in the superbowl”. Haha. All seriousness aside, I think it’s awesome that these two brothers are playing against each other. Both are very deserving of winning the Superbowl. Both coaches have improved their teams over the past few years. John Harbaugh, HC of the Ravens has great success turning his team around. The Ravens have made the playoffs since he started coaching for them. Jim Harbaugh, the HC of the 49ers has been at the helm the last 3 years and he’s really changed the culture of the team around. It’s been amazing to see. They’ve made the NFC title game now two years in a row and the 49ers are finally in the Superbowl for the first time since 1994.

For the first time every during a Superbowl Friday press conference, the NFL decided to have opposing coaches interview at the same time. Here’s the video from today:

I think both coaches have outstanding qualities and I’ll be interested to see which team wins and why? Like I said on Thursday, in my keys to the 49ers winning (provide link) I think the 49ers have a overall more talented team but that doesn’t mean it will be a win for the 49ers. What ever coaching staff has their team more prepared will win. It comes down to the players making the plays but also, the players have to be put in the right spots. I’m excited to see how each Harbaugh will prepare his team for battle. Jim and John, best of luck to you and your teams!

As I briefly talked about in my two blog postings on Tuesday and Wednesday regarding the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers .. today I’ll talk more in depth about the keys to the Ravens and 49ers winning the Superbowl.

Keys for the Ravens:

Get Ray Rice involved early. One of the keys will be to get Rice involved early in the game. It will be no surprise to anybody that one of the keys for the Ravens to win, is Ray Rice needs to have near 100 yards rushing and some early success with the screen plays.

Joe Flacco! It all depends on how accurate Flacco is on Sunday for the Ravens to win. If they can get Ray Rice involved early, this will take less pressure off of him. It’s a big game and he’s proved this year that he can take care of business. He can air it out like in the Denver game or play more conservative like he did against the Pats as well.

The Ravens defense! They struggle at times in the playoffs, but they make the stops when needed. Since they have Ray Lewis and Suggs back, they’ve been playing like a different defense. Will they be able to stop Kaepernick, Gore and the rest of the 49ers? I’m not sure, but they maybe able to slow the down enough in order to win.

Special teams! Can the Ravens special teams make some big plays for the Ravens to win? If they can have a solid day, then I can see them winning the Superbowl. We’ll see how Jacoby Jones can do on Superbowl Sunday. He only had 32 yards against New England. If he can get around 60 to 80 yards on kick and punt returns, I think the Ravens win the game.

John Harbaugh! Will he have the troops ready. This is his first Superbowl! I believe he will have his troops ready, plus you have the experience of Ray Lewis to help. That’s one benefit on his side. I think he will have his guys ready.

Keys for the 49ers:

Colin Kaepernick! How will he play in his first Superbowl? Tons of pressure, but I believe this guy can handle it. If he plays well, can have over 100 yards rushing (yes, rushing) and over 200 yards passing, the 49ers will win this game. If the Ravens struggle stopping him then he will light them up all day and it will be a very long day for the Ravens. He needs to play mistake free – no turnovers in order to win the Superbowl.

The 49ers defense! Will they be able to contain the potent Ravens offense? They need to stop the receiving crew of the Ravens: Smith, Boldin and Pita. As well as keying on Ray Rice too. If they can contain Ray Rice to under 100 yards rushing and receiving then they will win this game.

How will the 49ers receivers play against the Ravens defense? Last week Vernon Davis had 106 yards receiving with one TD. Who will step up on Superbowl Sunday? The receiving core has to make it easier for Kaepernick.

Frank Gore! Last week, he had 2 TDs and 90 yards rushing. How will he play this week? I can see him rushing for over 100 yards against the Ravens. This will be a major key for the 49ers to win on Sunday.

Jim Harbaugh! He’s played in many big games before. He will have his guys ready. I believe they have more talent with the 49ers but they are younger. It comes down to will they be ready and prepared. I think Jim Harbaugh will have them ready.

There you have it. Some of the keys for both the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers as well. What do you think? Is there any other keys you would add?

Let me start off by saying, I’m not shocked the San Francisco 49ers are in the Superbowl. They came pretty close last year against the NY Giants, but just missed out. They have a great defense and now a potent offense as well. Many people, not only myself, thought that the 49ers would make it to the Superbowl.

San Francisco 49ers

Here are five things that did surprised me about the San Francisco 49ers:

How quickly Jim Harbaugh has changed the culture with the 49ers. For many years, the 49ers struggled but with Harbaugh as their HC, they seem to be a different team. He’s made the right decisions and this has been a fun team to watch as they turn their seasons around.

Alex Smith not leading the 49ers back to the Superbowl. Who would have thought this 2nd year quarterback named Colin Kaepernick is leading the charge. He has really played well and he’s making the 49ers an offensive threat.

The 49ers defense is for real. They have played awesome against potent offenses like Green Bay and Atlanta in the playoffs. I’m pretty sure they will be able to handle the Ravens.

Will Frank Gore and the rest of the offense continue to step up against the Ravens defense? They have a tough test in the Ravens. How will these guys play against the Ravens defense? They’ve played well throughout the playoffs, can they keep it up? All of them have to have a solid game against the Ravens in order win the title game.

Can the San Francisco corners and safeties contain the Ravens’ big playmakers? In the title game, Julio Jones had 182 yards and 2 tds, Roddy White had 100 yards and Tony Gonzalez had 78 yards and 1 td. The 49ers secondary needs to stop the big threats for the Ravens in order to win the Superbowl.

I’ve been impressed throughout the 49ers season. They seem to make the right decisions at the right times, like continuing to start Colin Kaepernick over Alex Smith and are playing solid at the right time. Will they win their first SuperBowl since 1994? Time will tell! Maybe the glory day of the 49ers will be back again!

Not many people, myself included, thought that the Baltimore Ravens would make it to the Superbowl. As many of you know, I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers fan so I’m very familiar with the Ravens. I have to say that they’ve impressed me throughout the season and the playoffs. They found a way to win and make it to the Superbowl after losing 3 out of 4 games mid way through the season. One loss being against the Steelers.

Baltimore Ravens

Here are five things about the Baltimore Ravens:
1. Ray Rice! This guy is a beast. Give him the ball! He can run it or take screens and run it. He gets those hard yards.
2. Ray Lewis retiring! Many people didn’t think Ray Lewis would come back from his triceps injury. But after hearing that he would possibly make a run for the playoffs, I knew this guy would come back. He’s an emotional leader and he will be missed when he retires. With his announcement before the start of the playoffs, I believe this is carrying the defense as well as the team.
3. John Harbaugh! He’s a great coach and has his team ready for all games. I’ll be excited to see how he does against his younger brother.
4. Joe Flacco! I made fun of him before and he does struggle at times especially on the road but he has played great in the playoffs. He has gotten his team two wins on the road. I look for him to have a big game on Superbowl Sunday to keep up with Colin Kaepernick.
5. Torrey Smith, Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pita! How well they do on Superbowl Sunday, will determine if the Baltimore Ravens can win on Sunday. These guys have carried their team throughout the playoffs and season and will need to have big games on Sunday in order to win.

Like I’ve told many of my friends, the Baltimore Ravens deserve to be in the playoffs. I thought it would be Payton Manning vs Tom Brady, but I really like this match up and I think the Ravens have proven a lot of haters wrong. Can they win the big game on Sunday? Time will tell!

One team we had a feeling would make it to the Superbowl after just barely missing the title game last year. The other team, many people didn’t give a chance against mighty Denver as well as New England. New England just beat Baltimore last year in the AFC title game. It was a thrilling game, but New England found the way to win last year. But both, San Francisco and Baltimore are in the SuperBowl this year. It’s Baltimore’s John Harbaugh against younger brother, Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers Head Coach.

Both teams got here in different ways. Baltimore crushed the Indianapolis Colts, 24 to 9, beat Denver in 2 OTs by a score of 38 to 35 and then against New England in the AFC Title game, shut Tom Brady and company down in the second half. They won 28 to 13. San Francisco got a week off after finishing second in the NFC. In NFC Divisional Game, they torched Green Bay 45 to 31. Colin Kaepernick ran for 181 and 2 TD’s in that game. Then in the NFC Title game, the 49ers found a way to win by beating Atlanta 28 to 24. They also shut down the Atlanta offense in the second half, just like the Ravens shut down the Patriots in the second half.

One team loves the underdog status while the other team shines in the limelight. Many people are favoring the 49ers to win this Superbowl but many have been wrong before. Think about it, last year people figured the NY Giants would lose to the New England Patriots and what happened? The NY Giants found a way to win, just like they did two years ago. The Superbowl before that, the Pittsburgh Steelers were favored and choosen by many to beat the Green Bay Packers. And what happened, the Packers beat the Steelers. I’m just saying that I never believe the “experts” in this game… I take it with a grain of salt. What team wants it more? We will find out in less then a week.

Next Sunday we will have a new SuperBowl Champion. Will it be the Baltimore Ravens or the San Francisco 49ers? This week I will give my analysis of the two teams, as well as, who I think will win the SuperBowl. I’m really excited for the game and can’t wait for it to start.

All that I can say is the past two Syracuse games have been really exciting. First ‘Cuse knocked off #1 Louisville at their place and then they came back and won against Cincinnati on Monday afternoon. I love this ‘Cuse team! Check out my video below: